party on, Garth.

A friend's mother lost her battle with brain cancer this morning. Ironically, I had felt the urge to send her a message containing a verse from this past Sunday's service. Little did I know, the next response would be conveying the news of her mother's death. I have been following along as her family has documented this difficult journey on wordpress, as a means of keeping all their family and friends on the same page. The hope and love that is bursting from each entry has amazed me all along. They have maintained a sense of joy, humor, and gratitude throughout all the chemotherapy, negative MRI's, and the uncertainty.  What wonderful hearts and faithful souls. I'm praying for an abundance of peace for all who grieved by this loss.  May they celebrate the wonderful woman she was and rejoice in the knowledge that she is spending eternal life with our Father in Heaven.  I know for some that comes as such a cliche, but God has been their crutch in the midst of this long and painful journey.  And I pray that they continue to lean into him as they begin to mourn.  Rest in peace,  Mrs. Whalen.

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf." - Hebrews 6:19-20